St. Jude mourns loss of beloved member of St. Jude family, Phil Donahue
19 Agosto 2024 - 5:00PM
Business Wire
Legendary journalist, philanthropist dies at
age 88
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital© laments the passing of
television icon Phil Donahue, a pioneer in American media who
shaped the format of the modern talk show.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240819978602/en/
Phil Donahue at the FedEx St. Jude
Classic (Photo: ALSAC Photography)
Donahue was married to Emmy Award-winning actress, author and
St. Jude National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas, the eldest
daughter of renowned entertainer and St. Jude founder Danny Thomas.
Donahue and Marlo Thomas were married for 44 years.
Throughout the years, Donahue visited St. Jude to spend time
with the children and their families as well as participated in
numerous dinners and galas and events such as the FedEx St. Jude
Championship PGA TOUR golf tournament. Donahue and Marlo Thomas
often hosted St. Jude corporate partners and supporters in their
home. Danny Thomas often said that when he welcomed Donahue into
his family, he gained both a son-in-law and a fundraiser.
Donahue is most well-known as the creator of The Phil Donahue
Show, where he shaped the modern talk show by allowing the audience
to interact with his guests on a variety of issues spanning
entertainment to politics. He especially recognized women who were
active voices in their work, communities and on social issues. In
fact, he first met Thomas during an interview on his show.
During his career, Donahue won nine Daytime Emmys for
Outstanding Host in a Talk or Service Series, and he was awarded a
Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1996. He also won the distinguished
Peabody Award in 1980. In 2024, he received the nation’s highest
civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Phil Donahue’s pioneering work in his field and devotion to the
mission of St. Jude has left a lasting legacy that impacted so
many,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the
fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital. “We are deeply saddened by this profound loss.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marlo, and the Donahue and
Thomas families during this difficult time.”
In lieu of flowers, the Thomas family requests that memorials be
made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil
Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund. Visit st.jude.org to learn
more about Donahue’s support or make a donation in his memory.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the
world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other
life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures.
Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer
Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to
children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was
largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push
the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't
stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the
breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local
hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality
of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous
donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment,
travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child
live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories
of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission
by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following
St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to
its YouTube channel.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240819978602/en/
Ruth Klamper Director Strategic Communications ALSAC, the
fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital (901) 232-2351
MediaRelations@alsac.stjude.org